3/27/14

Wrong Must Be Explained

by

Brad Bromling, D.Min.

Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally killed their mother and father. The
evidence is plain; no one denies it. So, why is it so hard to find them
guilty? Their defense attorneys argued persuasively that the brothers
endured a nightmarish childhood of sexual and physical abuse, and that
they were thus acting out of a kind of insanity that excuses them from
first-degree murder charges. The arguments on both sides reduce to the
same basic premise: wrong was committed.
The prosecution accused the brothers of murder and appealed to the
public’s sense that murder is evil. Likewise the brothers, in claiming
they had been mistreated, appealed to a society that abhors child abuse.
This was not a matter of arbitrary human laws being violated, it went
much deeper. It was a matter of “right and wrong”—a concept that is
universal and unique to humanity.
No matter where people are found, they recognize that some things are
wrong. Although human groups differ on what they prohibit, they all
censor something. C.S. Lewis articulated this point well:

Think of a country where people were admired for running away in
battle, or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the people who
had been kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a country
where two and two made five. Men have differed as regards what people
you ought to be unselfish to—whether it was only your own family, or
your fellow countrymen, or everyone. But they have always agreed that
you ought not to put yourself first. Selfishness has never been admired.
Men have differed as to whether you should have one wife or four. But
they have always agreed that you must not simply have any woman you
liked (1952, p. 5).

This also is personal. When I look inside myself, I find this moral
sense that I did not invent. I can find no explanation for it in the
world—it must derive from beyond that realm. If there is nothing but
matter in the Universe, and matter is the only eternal reality—then how
do you explain this moral sense in humanity? Did it arise from rocks,
trees, or animals? No, this moral sense is one of the clearest and most
personal reminders that there is a God.

REFERENCE

We need to stop this!

The term "elect" (chosen) is not used in scripture as an umbrella term to cover all the saved of all the ages.
It always has specific addressees. Just as surely as it would
be a mistake to take "chosen" in OT texts and apply them to NT
Christians (unless we have textual grounds for doing so) so it's a
mistake to take "chosen" when addressed to Christians and say
it refers to all the saved people of all the ages. The NT elect are not
the OT elect nor are they the saved of all the ages.

The elect in the NT are Christians—those
who have been called by the gospel to faith in Jesus. We have no
textual grounds for taking the term (for example in Ephesians 1) and
saying the chosen ones in that text are the people of all the ages since
Adam. NT elect are called by the proclamation of the gospel about
Jesus. The work of Jesus Christ embraces people of all the ages but
within that work there is a peculiar group of people who have been
chosen to be the "body of Christ". Abraham is "saved", of course, but he
is not part of the NT elect. Melchizedek is "saved", of course, but he
is not part of the NT elect. Moses is "saved", of course, but he's not
part of the NT elect, "the body of Christ". Moses was not a Christian! Abraham was not a Christian and Melchizedek was not a Christian.
They're embraced in the universal work of God and are
saved, certainly (Hebrews 12:18-24), but their place is not in the
peculiar people (the NT elect) who serve a purpose no other saved people
served or can serve!

You only have to look at the
texts to see the error of using NT "elect" passages for all the saved of
all the ages. The Thessalonians are chosen by the gospel about Jesus and belief of that gospel (2 Thessalonians 13-14). The Ephesians were called by the gospel of truth about Jesus
(Ephesians 1:3-14, esp. 13) and so on. For some of us it suits our
theological purposes to make "elect" equivalent to "saved" but we have
no textual grounds for doing this. It's perfectly legitimate to do
systematic theology but that must only be done based on actual texts.

God
purposed the coming of "the last Adam" before the world began; in fact,
the creation was brought about with the immortal Adam in mind
(Colossians 1:15-16) and God purposed and brought into being the NT
elect who would not only enjoy life in Jesus but would function in the
world as "the body of Christ," the new humanity of the risen Lord; the
extension (so the speak) of Jesus' incarnation.

To
take the NT doctrine of the Church and make all the texts relate to all
the saved of all the ages is to take leave of the actual texts we're
dealing with.

Understand that the work of Jesus
affects all the ages and the entire human family but within that
universal work of God in Jesus there are specific moves and acts of God
to bring about his eternal purpose. Two of them are the OT elect and the
NT elect. These are not to be confused though they are intimately
related. The NT elect are not to be confused with the entire number of
all the "saved".

Find a text that speaks of the elect in the NT and you find people who are elect through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That
means we can't place Moses or Hannah or Samuel or Ruth in the NT elect.
The NT elect arrive on the scene only when Jesus arrives and they are
the creation of God via the gospel that makes them into the image of
Jesus and they live out the truth that Jesus is the returning Lord of All.

We
need to stop treating NT texts about "election" as if they related to
"all the saved of all the ages". "Saved" and "elect" are not co-extensive. Clickherefor a little more.

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"
Exhortations To Manifest Love (13:1-3)
INTRODUCTION
1. When we began our study, we noted that "The Epistle To The
Hebrews"...
a Began like an "essay" - cf. He 1:1-2
b. Progressed like a "sermon" - cf. He 2:1-4
c. Ended like a "letter"
-- With the final chapter, we see the tone of the epistle taking on
the characteristics of a personal correspondence
2. As with many epistles in the New Testament, this letter ends with
various exhortations...
a. The first regarding the objects of their love - He 13:1-3
b. Here we find the author practicing what he preaches; seeking to
stimulate love and good works - cf. He 10:24
[As Christians, toward whom should we manifest our love? Certainly
toward all men, even our enemies (Lk 6:32,35); but in the text our
attention is focused upon manifesting love first...]
I. TOWARD BRETHREN (1)
A. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE...
1. It is a mark of true discipleship - Jn 13:35
2. It is an indication of true spiritual life - 1Jn 3:14
B. THE HEBREWS HAD MANIFESTED BROTHERLY LOVE...
1. Note the text says their love was to "continue"
2. They had demonstrated brotherly love in the past...
a. In their ministry to God and His saints - He 6:10
b. Even in their service to the author - He 10:32-34
C. THE NEED FOR BROTHERLY LOVE NEVER DIMINISHES...
1. Just as Paul wrote...
a. For the Thessalonians to excel in their love - 1Th 4:9-10
b. For the Philippians to abound in their love - Php 1:9
2. Just as Peter wrote that our love should abound - 2Pe 1:7
-- Even now, the author of Hebrews says "Let brotherly love
continue"!
[No matter how much we may have manifested love towards one another as
brethren in the past, it is imperative that such love continues!
Equally imperative is the manifestation of love...]
II. TOWARD STRANGERS (2)
A. THIS IS A CALL FOR "HOSPITALITY"...
1. The Greek word is philoxenia {fil-ox-en-ee'-ah}
a. Lit., a love of strangers
b. It involved receiving a stranger (sojourner) into one's
home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with
food, shelter, and protection (Holman BD)
2. In many ancient cultures, hospitality was a solemn duty
a. It was regarded as a sacred obligation by the ancient
Greeks and Romans, one that was approved by Zeus, the god
and protector of strangers
b. The Egyptians claimed it as a meritorious deed in life
c. For the Bedouins, it was an expression of righteousness
(Holman BD)
d. "Hospitality is one form of worship" (Jewish Proverb)
3. In the early church, it was an important ministry...
a. Christians were often displaced by persecution; public inns
were scarce, costly, and sometimes dangerous
b. Traveling evangelists were to be supported through
hospitality - 3Jn 5-8
4. Thus hospitality was to be manifested by...
a. Those men who would serve as elders (bishops) - 1Ti 3:2;
Tit 1:8
b. Those widows who would be "taken into the number" - 1Ti 5:9-10
c. All Christians - Ro 12:13; 1Pe 4:9
B. A REASON TO PRACTICE HOSPITALITY...
1. "for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
a. The example of Abraham - Gen 18:1-8
b. The example of Lot - Gen 19:1-3
2. The point is not that we should expect angels to literally
come our way
a. Though some we entertain may serve as His "messengers"
("angel" means "messenger") in a providential sense
b. The key idea is that "You never know what hospitality might
bring" (Lightfoot)
1) One often receives unexpected benefits from his or her
guests
2) There is always the "blessedness" of giving - Ac 20:35
[The physical need for hospitality today may not be as great as it was
in ancient times, but the spiritual need (e.g., the strengthening of
spiritual ties) is just as important. Therefore we need to "be
hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1Pe 4:9).
The manifestation of our love should also extend...]
III. TOWARD PRISONERS AND THE PERSECUTED (3)
A. A CALL TO REMEMBER THEM...
1. Christians were often persecuted and imprisoned for their
faith
a. Prior to his conversion, Paul often led the assault - Ac 8:3; 26:9-11
b. Later, he himself was a prisoner - Php 1:12-18; Col 4:18
2. The Hebrews had already shown their love toward such prisoners
- He 10:32-34
3. To remember and visit Christians in prison was an act of
devotion to Christ Himself - Mt 25:35-40
4. Their provisions for the prisoners would be a "sweet-smelling
sacrifice", well-pleasing to God - cf. Php 4:18
5. They could also remember them in their prayers - Ac 12:5;
Ep 6:18-20
B. THEIR LOVING REMEMBRANCE WAS TO BE INFLUENCED...
1. By their sense of fellowship in their brethren's suffering
a. "as if chained with them;"
b. The Lord intended such connection between the members of
His Body ("if one member suffers, all the members suffer
with it") - 1Co 12:26
2. By their awareness of their own vulnerability
a. "since you yourselves are in the body also"
b. They would not be immune to persecution themselves,
therefore they should be sensitive to the sufferings of
others
CONCLUSION
1. In providing a "new and living way", it is true that Jesus made
possible a close relationship between man and God - cf. He 10:19-22
2. But the purity we experience through obeying the truth...
a. Is not just that we may have fellowship with God
b. But also that we may have fellowship with each other in sincerity
and love! - cf. 1Pe 1:22-23
3. Thus it naturally follows that as we draw near to God, we should
also draw near to one another; this we do when we manifest love...
a. Toward brethren (1)
b. Toward strangers (2)
c. Toward prisoners and the persecuted (3)
May we all be diligent to heed the exhortation to...
"Let brotherly love continue"!

Lev
9:1 It happened on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his
sons, and the elders of Israel;

Lev
9:2 and he said to Aaron, "Take a calf from the herd for a sin
offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer
them before Yahweh.

Lev
9:3 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Take a male
goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old,
without blemish, for a burnt offering;

Lev
9:4 and a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before
Yahweh; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today Yahweh appears
to you.' "

Lev
9:5 They brought what Moses commanded before the Tent of Meeting:
and all the congregation drew near and stood before Yahweh.

Lev
9:6 Moses said, "This is the thing which Yahweh commanded that
you should do: and the glory of Yahweh shall appear to you."

Lev
9:7 Moses said to Aaron, "Draw near to the altar, and offer
your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for
yourself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people,
and make atonement for them; as Yahweh commanded."

Lev
9:8 So Aaron drew near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin
offering, which was for himself.

Lev
9:9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his
finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured
out the blood at the base of the altar:

Lev
9:10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of
the sin offering, he burned upon the altar; as Yahweh commanded
Moses.

Lev
9:11 The flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.

Lev
9:12 He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons delivered the
blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar.

Lev
9:13 They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and
the head: and he burned them upon the altar.

Lev
9:14 He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the
burnt offering on the altar.

Lev
9:15 He presented the people's offering, and took the goat of the
sin offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it
for sin, like the first.

Lev
9:16 He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to
the ordinance.

Lev
9:17 He presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there,
and burned it upon the altar, besides the burnt offering of the
morning.

Lev
9:18 He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace
offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons delivered to
him the blood, which he sprinkled around on the altar,

Lev
9:19 and the fat of the bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and that
which covers the innards, and the kidneys, and the cover of the
liver:

Lev
9:20 and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat on
the altar:

Lev
9:21 and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave
offering before Yahweh, as Moses commanded.

Lev
9:22 Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them;
and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt
offering, and the peace offerings.

Lev
9:23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out,
and blessed the people: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the
people.

Lev
9:24 There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed the
burnt offering and the fat upon the altar: and when all the people
saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Lev
10:1 Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and
put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire
before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them.

Lev
10:2 And fire came forth from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and
they died before Yahweh.

Lev
10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of,
saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and
before all the people I will be glorified.' " Aaron held his
peace.

Lev
10:4 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle
of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brothers from
before the sanctuary out of the camp."

Lev
10:5 So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the
camp, as Moses had said.

Lev
10:6 Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons,
"Don't let the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your
clothes; that you don't die, and that he not be angry with all the
congregation: but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel,
bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled.

Lev
10:7 You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest
you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." They did
according to the word of Moses.

Lev
10:8 Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying,

Lev
10:9 "Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with
you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, that you don't die: it
shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:

Lev
10:10 and that you are to make a distinction between the holy and
the common, and between the unclean and the clean;

Lev
10:11 and that you are to teach the children of Israel all the
statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses."

Lev
10:12 Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons
who were left, "Take the meal offering that remains of the
offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the
altar; for it is most holy;

Lev
10:13 and you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your
portion, and your sons' portion, of the offerings of Yahweh made by
fire: for so I am commanded.

Lev
10:14 The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean
place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are
given as your portion, and your sons' portion, out of the sacrifices
of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.

Lev
10:15 The heaved thigh and the waved breast they shall bring with
the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering
before Yahweh: and it shall be yours, and your sons' with you, as a
portion forever; as Yahweh has commanded."

Lev
10:16 Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering,
and, behold, it was burned: and he was angry with Eleazar and with
Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,

Lev
10:17 "Why haven't you eaten the sin offering in the place of
the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and he has given it you to
bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them
before Yahweh?

Lev
10:18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the
sanctuary: you certainly should have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I
commanded."

Lev
10:19 Aaron spoke to Moses, "Behold, this day they have offered
their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yahweh; and such
things as these have happened to me: and if I had eaten the sin
offering today, would it have been pleasing in the sight of Yahweh?"

Lev
10:20 When Moses heard that, it was pleasing in his sight.

Mar. 27, 28

Mark 16

Mar 16:1 When the
Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and
Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 Very early on
the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had
risen.

Mar 16:3 They were
saying among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the
door of the tomb for us?"

Mar 16:4 for it was
very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.

Mar 16:5 Entering into
the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in
a white robe, and they were amazed.

Mar 16:6 He said to
them, "Don't be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has
been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where
they laid him!

Mar 16:7 But go, tell
his disciples and Peter, 'He goes before you into Galilee. There you
will see him, as he said to you.' "

Mar 16:8 They went out,
and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on
them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.

Mar 16:9 Now when he
had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to
Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

Mar 16:10 She went and
told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11 When they
heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.

Mar 16:12 After these
things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they
walked, on their way into the country.

Mar 16:13 They went
away and told it to the rest. They didn't believe them, either.

Mar 16:14 Afterward he
was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and
he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because
they didn't believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Mar 16:15 He said to
them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the
whole creation.

Mar 16:16 He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will
be condemned.

Mar 16:17 These signs
will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out
demons; they will speak with new languages;

Mar 16:18 they will
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no
way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover."

Mar 16:19 So then the
Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven,
and sat down at the right hand of God.

Mar 16:20 They went
out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

This morning I had a pleasant surprise; a phone call from my good friend Harry Shepherd. The Apologetics press post I made yesterday made him think of the origin of the universe and a conversation we had about it, almost a decade ago. Imagine, thinking about a 1/2 hour conversation for ten years??? Well, time and the big bang theory seem to be inexorably linked together in my thinking- along with distance. And so we come to this picture. A view of a bus or trolley car from both the inside and outside as well (at the same time) as it speeds towards its destination. Well, I know that time changes for me depending upon circumstances (remember as a kid, when the summers seemed to last forever, or when you are driving along and hit a patch of ice and start sssllliiidddiiinnnggg...), but what about God????

2 Peter, Chapter 3

8But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When it comes to God- throw your rule book out the window; HE is just so far above us that sometimes when I try to understand everything about HIM, I get a headache!!! Yet, this I know- verse nine above is true!!! And am I glad that it is!!!!!! However you understand the formation of everything, include God, because HE has included YOU among his creations. Puts a different spin on things, doesn't it???